Sarawakians working in West M’sia urged not to return for the time being

Nurhanim (centre) hands over a school bag to a parent of a SK Bandar Semariang student witnessed by Akfan (right). Photo supplied.

By Adrian Lim

KUCHING, Jan 11: Penggerak Komuniti Negara (PKN) Sarawak is urging Sarawakians working in Peninsular Malaysia not to return back to the state for the time being to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

In view of the increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases in Sarawak, PKN Sarawak chairwoman Nurhanim Mokhsen said she supported this call.

“The common people are playing their part in not coming back to Sarawak and many Chinese working outside Sarawak will need to forgo the Chinese New Year reunion with families this year.

“Looking at the number of positive cases in Sarawak, all of us need to take responsible measures to stop the chain (Covid-19 infection),” she said in a statement.

She added with the alarming figure of an average of 2,000 to 3,000 positive cases a day, all citizens need to take extra care of ourselves.

She believed the only thing the people can do to help contain the spread of the pandemic is to reduce personal exposure by avoiding crowded public places and observing physical distancing.

On Saturday (Jan 9), Nurhanim handed over donations in the form of school bags, disposable masks and hand sanitizer to the parents of needy students of SK Bandar Semariang as part of the party’s ‘Back to School’ programme.

She disclosed that only 10 parents attended the ceremony following the standard operating procedures (SOP) under the new norm while the rest of the donations were handed over to a senior teacher of the school, Akfan Sajuri.

Nurhanim said it was the third year PKN Sarawak organised such a programme which aimed to benefit students from the B40 group.

“Our contribution is not much but we sincerely hope this will help to ease the parents’ burden.

“There will be few more schools that will receive donations from us and we are now coordinating with our donors for goods to be delivered to us.

“My advice to all students and families during this difficult time of the pandemic is to strictly observe the new normal in our daily activities,” she added. — DayakDaily